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U.S. Department of Energy
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Seafloor response for two southern California earthquakes

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6582851

A significant consideration in the design of offshore structures for seismically-active regions is their response to earthquakes. An appropriate design methodology would involve the synthesis of wave propagation/structural vibration models with in-situ soil/structural response measurements. A Seafloor Earthquake Measurement System (SEMS), designed and developed by Sandia National Laboratories, has been deployed in the Shell Oil Company Beta Field, offshore Long Beach, California. During July 1986, two significant earthquake events were simultaneously recorded by the SEMS unit and by accelerometers mounted on nearby offshore platforms. This paper describes the SEMS unit, presents SEMS data from these events, and contains a preliminary analysis of these data. The potential impact that this research will have in the design methodology of offshore structures is also indicated.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6582851
Report Number(s):
SAND-86-2441C; CONF-870665-2; ON: DE87006715
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English